INSPECTORS have identified several areas for improvement following a visit to Millbank Primary School The inspection, carried out by Education Scotland before the October break in 2018, also praised the strong parental support for the staff and pupils. In the report inspectors said that children are happy and polite and at all stages show a willingness to learn, while staff benefit from an annual review meeting which enables them to progress their own professional development. This further benefits pupils. A Moray Council spokesman said many of the areas inspectors were concerned about had already been identified as part of the school’s improvement process. “The school has reviewed and streamlined its improvement plan in line with national guidance and it now has a manageable range of improvement priorities,” he said. “There is now a need to provide staff with clearer strategic leadership and direction to ensure improved outcomes for pupils. “The school recognises that there is a need to improve attainment levels across all year groups, and is well on track to improve the issues raised in the report. “The school has very supportive parents, 94 per cent of whom said they were satisfied with the overall quality of the school. More than 80 per cent of pupils said they were happy at the school and with the quality of teaching, so we have confidence that the staff are working hard to deliver for their community.” Education Scotland will make a return visit by in a year, when education staff expect to demonstrate significant progress. Of the four areas of performance evaluated by the inspectors, two were ranked as “satisfactory” and two as “weak”. Buckie SNP councillor and chairwoman of the council’s children and young people’s services committee Sonya Warren praised the support the school has received. She added: “While there are areas of improvement identified for Millbank it is very encouraging indeed to see the inspectors praising how well the school and wider community work together. “There is a strong parent council at Millbank along with a parent forum working hard to move the school forward with its improvement plan. “There is also a fabulous level of support for the school from the local community.” Fellow ward councillors Tory Tim Eagle and Independent Gordon Cowie hailed the report’s positives. Councillor Eagle said: “Millbank has undergone a large refurbishment project and is working on various items to help it improve its outcomes for pupils following the inspection.
“It is great to see that 80 per cent of pupils are happy at the school and I know that staff are really keen to work hard to deliver for all the pupils.” Councillor Cowie said: “The staff and pupils have been working very hard and it’s pleasing to see that improvement is going the right way.” The school and Moray Council as education authority have been asked to adopt a more strategic direction and focus on four areas before the inspectors make a follow-up visit. These are: Improve learning and teaching so that pupils can lead their own learning; Raise attainment for all children by more effective tracking and monitoring; Review approaches to health and wellbeing and inclusion to better support children’s wellbeing and progress. Develop the curriculum to enable children to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills, along with greater strategic direction. Millbank Primary has recently undergone a successful £3.8 million refurbishment.